Changing seasons

Since the weather has been much warmer this week, I started the semi-annual process of switching out the kids' clothes. It's always a gradual process because there are months when the weather flip flops back and forth. I leave some long sleeve shirts in their drawers but put away the heavier sweaters and add some short sleeve shirts to their dressers. I also am sorting through the clothes that are being set aside to determine what might still fit next year or what should be passed on (Ian's clothes to Oliver) or given away/ sold (the things Nadia and Oliver have outgrown). I put some size 4T clothes on Oliver and not surprisingly, they fit him perfectly.

Ian is finally entering the season of life that involves losing teeth. He has his first wiggly tooth, and it is VERY wiggly. I think if he eats an apple that tooth will come right out. At first he was a little nervous about the prospect of losing a tooth (thinking it will be painful), but I told him if he waits until it's really wiggly it won't hurt when it comes up. I also reminded him that we give them $5 for the first tooth ($1

for all the other teeth), and the notion of getting $5 was very motivating for him. Nadia also has a loose tooth. She lost 2 teeth when she was 5, 4 teeth when she was 6, and has lost one so far at the age of 7. I think she'll lose it before she turns 8. Oliver wanted to get in on the action and tried to wiggle his teeth, but of course at 3 years old he will have to wait a couple of years.

When Oliver doesn't take a nap, he typically wakes up earlier than usual. Since he took a nap yesterday I thought he might get up later today, but I wasn't expecting him to sleep until 8:30! Wow! I knew he wouldn't nap today, but I tried to work with him on the concept of a quiet time in his room (he has books and stuffed animals in his room to keep him occupied). Today was the grand finale of Nadia and Ian's ten week ice skating class. All five of us skated (for free) and enjoyed a pizza party. The ice skating program provides the pizza and the parents bring the desserts, chips, drinks, fruit, veggies, jello, etc. On the way home Oliver fell asleep in the van. I guess the ice skating pooped

him out. Yesterday when he fell asleep in the afternoon in the van on the way home from the Children's Museum I let him continue to sleep in the van in the garage. I opened the doors of the vehicle, closed the garage door, and left the door between the garage and kitchen open so I could hear him when he woke up because he doesn't know how to unbuckle his seat belt. Since it was 6:40pm when we got home today, I was not about to let him keep sleeping in the van. He was NOT happy when I woke him up. The season of giving up one's afternoon nap can be a bit bumpy. 

One of my favorite musicals is "Fiddler on the Roof, " and I was thinking today of the song "Sunrise, Sunset." In particular I was thinking of the chorus - "Sunrise, sunset, 

Swiftly fly the years, 

One season following another, 

Laiden with happiness and tears." It's truly hard for me to believe that Nadia will be turning 8 years old in 3 months. It doesn't seem possible that many years have passed already. 

There have certainly been many twists and turns in Paul's life in terms of jobs he's held and schooling. As I look back, I realize I probably shouldn't have been so shell shocked in August when he told me he was abandoning the field of chemistry in favor of the job he had told me for 18.5 years he never wanted to have. When we met in 1997 he had recently just come back to work for his dad. Prior to that he had been a painter and a welder in New Mexico, and prior to that he had a few different jobs in PA (including working for his dad). I was surprised when he told me he was going to Penn State to earn his BS. Since I knew he didn't want to own the family business, I thought it was wise for him to go to school so I supported his decision although I knew it would mean we would have to wait to get married. We dated for 4.5 years because he lived near PSU (a couple of hours from where I lived), which is longer than usual to date considering we were in our mid to late 20's when we met. I had wished he would have picked a closer college (which would have meant cheaper tuition and cheaper room/board and also we could have gotten married sooner). Years later (after he took a couple of classes at Kutztown and Bloomsburg), he told me he wished he had followed my advice because he liked taking classes better at those schools than PSU (and also realized he would have brought less debt into our marriage). I assumed though that if he was going to school for 4 years that when he graduated he would look for a job that used his new degree in mathematics, so I was surprised that he opted to work for his dad again, but I was the primary breadwinner and we didn't have kids, so his decision didn't really effect me. I was surprised again a few years later when he wanted to get a master's degree in chemistry, but I eventually came around although I didn't think he would enjoy teaching (and he has also mentioned recently that he remembers me saying that). Then it went from a master's to a doctorate, and this was harder for me to accept because I was pregnant with Nadia when he was applying for doctoral programs, and I had planned to be a SAHM. But he assured me he would be able to get an even better job and make more money for the family if he got his PhD so I finally came around and supported that decision and continued to work outside the home - went back when Nadia was 8 weeks old.

It basically has felt like I've been on a boomerang with him bouncing back and forth between working for his dad and going to school and back to working for his dad and back to school, etc. In the last 19 years he was a FT student for 10.5 of those years (also was a PT student some of the time he was working for his dad), worked for his dad for 5.5 of those years, and has been teaching chemistry for almost 3 years. Two years ago he toyed with giving up the field of chemistry (after having been in it for less than a year). He declined three interview invitations (two were for tenure track positions) two years ago, so I guess in hind sight I should have "seen this coming," but I didn't. I was totally and completely shell shocked in August. I can't think of any time in my life when I was more shell shocked than I was that night. 

I made so many decisions over the past 3.5 years on the assumption that he was going to stay in the field of chemistry and in a few years make the same salary I had been making at Bloomsburg when I resigned. I feel so much regret over the fact that I resigned from my job. If I had known this was the path he was going to take, I never would have quit my job, but I can't have my job back now. I also wish that when he asked me 2 years ago to trade places with him (he be the SAHD and I be a professor again) that I had agreed because I find that option more appealing than the current plan. He held that position (of wanting to trade places) for about 18 months, but he also changed his view on that in August and is no longer interested in that option. I can't change the past, so I can only try to learn from it. For one thing, I am trying now to realize that Paul might continue to make career changes in the future as he has his whole adult life. He's never stayed in one job for very long. I'm sure he won't be going back to school though. Hopefully this realization will make it easier for me to accept the next time he wants to switch gears. The only other job he's mentioned he might pursue is driving a garbage truck so maybe that will be his next choice. Who knows. I also have come to the understanding that he makes unilateral decisions. I need to accept the fact that my opinions don't carry any weight with him. Maybe it will be easier to accept future decisions he makes if I realize from the outset I don't have any say in the matter.I really want to come to terms with this major transition, and I also don't want to get this upset again if something like this happens again in the future. It's been really hard on me emotionally. I realize there are much bigger needs out there (such as my mother's cancer), but if you are a praying person, I would still covet your prayers that I can bounce back emotionally and adjust to this new season of life we will be entering in 2 months. It still just makes me want to cry. Some of his decisions I have really liked. For example, he was the one who had the idea to homeschool. I love it! He was the one who wanted to do IVF. Boy was he right and boy was I wrong to pursue adoption instead at first. Hopefully in time I will think this decision was the right one albeit it's really hard for me to picture that right now.

Like Medicine

 I know the saying is that "laughter is the best medicine" (based on Proverbs 17:22), and I do agree that laughter can really be uplifting, but I think there is also a case to be made that sunshine is also a great medicine. I know we get vitamin D from sunshine, which I'm sure is beneficial, but it seems to go beyond that for me at least. There is just something about being outside in the fresh air (I prefer it to be at least in the 60's) when the skies are blue and the sun is shining. Today it got at least as warm as 79 degrees! I know the temps won't stay this high quite yet, but we are enjoying a gorgeous week in the 60's and 70's. Additionally, it feels good to get some exercise.  Next winter I need to find an exercise to do inside the house during the winter months OR I need to eat less food during those months because I gained back a lot of what I lost last summer. I hadn't been weighing myself, which was foolish on my part. I was weighed at the doctor yesterday and they said I had lost weight, but I know I had actually gained weight over the past three months. I thought since my jeans were still fitting that I hadn't gained much weight. I was wrong. Well this week I have gotten back on track to start shedding those pounds yet again. I walked to the playground on Monday and Tuesday and ran four miles this evening. If I exercise, go back to eating oatmeal for breakfast, and cut back on cookies, ice cream, etc. I know I can lose the weight again. Here's to hoping that more time outside in the fresh air and getting more exercise can be a boost to my spirits as I really want to feel "myself" again which certainly hasn't been the case for the past 6 1/2 months.

I took the kids to the Children's Museum this morning for their "Homeschool Hangout." Since it was so pretty they had set up the activities outside. The theme today was camping out and included things like assembling a small first aid kit, making a flashlight (Nadia got frustrated but eventually got the wires working correctly), making animal prints with modeling clay, doing an experiment regarding purified water, creating a shelter using various materials they provided, etc. Nadia spent the most time making animal prints. Ian really enjoyed a board game called Camp. They also spent a little time inside the museum before we headed to the playground that is close to the museum. I was surprised at how crowded it was given we arrived at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Wednesday. I was thrilled to see Ian going down the fireman's pole of his own initiative as in the past he was unwilling to try it. He is getting braver and braver! In the past I have tried to hurry the kids back so we would get home by 1:00 for Oliver's nap, but I am trying to adjust my thinking since he hasn't been napping. He did actually fall asleep in the van when we were about half-way home. It was his first nap in several days. He and Ian both find it easy to fall asleep in a vehicle.

This evening we didn't have choir rehearsal, and that was perfect timing because I ended up having a massage at 6:30 (which is when choir rehearsal usually starts). I did sleep a little better last night, but I have still been in a lot of pain today and couldn't sleep on either side last night. So I splurged and paid $35 for a back/neck/arm massage, but if it leads to me getting more sleep and being in less pain during the day, it will be money well spent. It is much harder to show patience with the children when I am in constant pain.

While we were at the children's museum, I signed Nadia and Ian up for a painting/drawing "camp" in June. It will be from 10:00am-1:00pm M-F for one week. On Monday I will need to take Oliver somewhere else (like the playground if the weather is nice) because the museum isn't open on Mondays, but the other four days he can play in the museum while they have their class. Perfect! I also signed Nadia and Ian up for an art class for homeschoolers next Wednesday morning at an art studio much closer to our home. That class is pricier than the one at the Children's Museum, but I decided to try it once and see if it's worth the money or not.

Thankful Tuesday

1. We have been having absolutely gorgeous weather this week. It feels like spring! I am eagerly anticipating seeing the grass turn green, leaves on the trees, flowers, etc. I love spring! We walked to the playground yesterday without coats on, and today we were all sweating wearing long sleeve shirts when we walked to the playground again. Tomorrow we'll be wearing short sleeves! I am hoping to get back into the routine of running at least 12 miles a week starting tomorrow.

2. Oliver has given up his nap. I am still adjusting to this phenomenon because for 7.66 years, we've had at least one child napping in our house every day. Life without anyone taking a nap is not something I have fully wrapped my mind around yet. I am thankful that Oliver will stay in his bed for a quiet time every day (at least 50 minutes per day). Ian never mastered that skill. Praying for a not too difficult transition as he is definitely crankier in the evenings when he hasn't napped.

3. Oliver got a good report at the pulmonologist yesterday morning in terms of his lung function. The doctor did give him an antibiotic for an ear infection and sinus infection. Paul's parents were at the same hospital that the kids and I were at the same time yesterday morning while his mom had her monthly infusion. I am very thankful she has been SO much healthier over the past year.

4. Ian made three baskets during practice this evening! I am thrilled I was able to see his one basket in his game a couple of weeks ago. I'm hoping to see Nadia and/or Ian make another basket in their last two games this season.

5. Nadia and Ian's soccer practices mostly overlap this spring! Nadia's are from 5:30-7:00 on M/W, and Ian's are from 5:30-6;30 on M/W. I already told their coaches they will have to leave at 6:20 on Wednesdays for church. Last fall their practices were on different days of the week. This will be a lot more convenient.

6. I have had some pain in my neck and shoulder for a week, but the last two days the pain was MUCH worse and was shooting down my right arm. I have not gotten much sleep the past two nights. I called the
doctor yesterday morning, but the soonest they could fit me in was 1:00 today. It was the first time the kids were with me for a doctor appointment for me. All six eyes were studying me very carefully as the nurse took my temperature, blood pressure, etc. The doctor said I have a pinched nerve and gave me prescriptions for steroids and a muscle relaxant. Hopefully I will get a lot more sleep tonight and the pain will go away soon.

7. My mom was also at the doctor on Monday. The cat scan showed the tumors had shrunk some in response to the chemo (yay!) but they are still producing fluid (they keep draining the fluid from below the one lung at home). Tomorrow she will have her third chemo and meet with the surgeon to find out if she qualifies for surgery or not. The surgery is necessary for her to ever be in remission. Please keep praying for her. We also are praying that she will get relief from the excess fluid in her abdomen and legs. Thankful that this time there was no mention of the "h" word (hospice). She would love to regain enough strength to be able to climb the stairs so she
can sleep in her own bed and take a shower.

8. A friend I met online 13 years ago has two boys (via IVF), and she found out yesterday that she is pregnant again (from her third fresh IVF transfer). PTL! I'm praying for a healthy pregnancy for her.

9. We got rid of our cable tv (again) in January, and we don't miss it. I am so thankful we can watch shows like I Love Lucy and Wild Kratts (without commercials) whenever we want via Amazon prime.

Room on the Broom

We left the house at 9:30 this morning and didn't come back until about 2:45. First we watched Ian's basketball game. He didn't make any baskets, but he was definitely more aggressive (in a good way) with trying to get the basketball (even was down on the floor trying to get it a couple of times!). He could do a better job at remembering to go to half court when the possession switches to the other team. Usual a coach or referee had to remind him. Oops! He played 4 of the 6 quarters. The other games this season he had played 2 or 3 of the 6 quarters each game. Once his game was over I took the boys to our church's indoor play land for about 30 minutes before returning for Nadia's 12:00 game. We all left once her game reached half-time because we had tickets for a 1:00 show at Bucknell. She usually plays 3 out of 6 quarters. The coach had her play 2 of the 3 in the first half since he knew she wouldn't be there during the second half. The kids enjoyed the 60 minute show at Bucknell about the story "Room on the Broom". There were four actors, and they also used three puppets in the show (dog, frog, and bird).

After the show was over we came home, and I put Oliver down for a late nap. He didn't go to sleep. He has been very erratic lately with his naps. Some days he doesn't nap, and then other days I have to wake him up because he has been napping for three hours. The good news is that he is like Nadia and doesn't mind having a quiet time in his bed (whereas Ian never had a quiet time once he gave up his nap). I usually have him stay in his bed for one hour with some stuffed animals if he doesn't nap. Because Nadia learned the last song in her piano book yesterday, we used Paul's gift card (thanks Mom and Dad!) for Bonanza for dinner this evening. Yum! After dinner we got our chores done (meaning Nadia helped me clean the bathrooms and Ian helped me dust) before watching one episode of Wild Kratts and one episode of I Love Lucy via Amazon Prime. I'd say we've all had a good day! Below is a video I took of Ian reading today. He had never seen those pages before. He didn't read it perfectly, but I think he's doing a great job considering he's in Kindergarten.

Sparks-a-Rama

I was never very athletic, but I really enjoyed participating in the AWANA Olympics when I was a child. Each week the kids play various relay races and other games at AWANA, and once a year different churches come together to compete playing those same games. The kids in Sparks (K-2nd) participate in an event called Sparks-a-Rama. Nadia didn't participate in it when she was in Kindergarten because it was held on a Saturday morning and conflicted with one of her basketball games, and since Paul was the coach of her team, it didn't seem like we could skip the game. Last year the kids participated in AWANA at our church, and they don't participate in this type of event. So tonight was the first time for both Nadia and Ian to participate. Grandma and Pop Pop came up to cheer for their team. Next year Nadia will be in T&T (group for grades 3-5) which means she would be participating in a different AWANA games event.

As I worked on making a photo book last night for the first time in three months I realized exactly how few pictures I had taken in that time frame. Hopefully I will take more this month because I was planning on ordering a photo book by the end of this month using some free codes from Shutterfly before they expire. I did take several videos today of the kids. I took one of Nadia playing one of the songs at the end of her piano book, and two of Oliver singing two songs. I also took two at the AWANA games this evening. The event shown that Ian was participating in (Sparks train) his team came in first, and the event shown that Nadia was participating in (stacking buckets) her team came in second place. Next I need to take one of Ian reading to show how much progress he has made!





 

Field trips and summer plans

There are many reasons why I love homeschooling, but one of my top ten reasons would definitely be that we can take far more field trips than kids in school typically attend in a year. I was known for taking kids on more field trips than usual when I was a teacher. My goal was about 8 field trips a year, and the biggest obstacle I had with that goal was getting enough parents to chaperone that many trips. Kindergarten teachers don't have that problem. Almost every child has a parent or grandparent who would like to attend the field trip, but with middle school it can be more of a challenge, especially as kids that age often don't like their peers to see them with a parent so sometimes the kids were telling their parents "don't volunteer" which is again not generally the case with younger children.

I have not done as many field trips this school year as usual for a variety of reasons, one of which is that I just emotionally have not been myself the past six months. The drastic reduction in the the number of photographs I have taken and the frequency of blog posts are evidence of a change. I usually love planning field trips and other special events, but that hasn't been the case lately. It also is more complicated when your house is on the market and you don't know where or when you will be relocating. The kids only went on one field trip in January and one in February prior to this week, but this week we had our second for February and by Saturday should have had our second for March already.

On Monday night I took the kids to an event at the public library about Leap Day.  After the librarian read a couple of books, the kids went to various stations to make an origami frog, see how far they could jump, and do an experiment to power a clock with apples, lemons, potatoes, milk, onions, or soda.

Tuesday morning we headed to a state park for a program on rocks and minerals. At the end of the program we worked in small groups to identify 14 different rocks (granite, mica, amethyst, etc.). Nadia enjoyed the part where she played the role of a volcano, which the naturalist named Mt. Nadia. This Saturday afternoon we plan to take the kids to a musical at Bucknell.

Since our house has not been shown for 2 months (we did turn down one showing when Oliver was in the hospital) it seems like our house won't be selling in the near future. Also, we have decided if I don't get a job we will stay here in this house one more year. Also we will stay here if I am offered a job at Lock Haven. We figure we can afford to live here one more year because Paul will receive a double salary for four months as he plans to start at KCI in May but will be paid by Bucknell through the end of August. That double pay can also pay for Nadia's braces. If I am offered a job at Messiah College, then we would move this summer, but we could wait until the end of July to do so.

Because of all the uncertainty, I held off on signing the kids up for camp although there was a financial incentive for doing so. However if we do it by March 15 we can still save $40 so I decided today that I will sign Nadia up this week. Now that we know the dates of the theatre production (she's excited that she'll be doing Little Mermaid Jr this summer), I let her pick which week of Girl's camp she wanted to attend. She picked the first week because it will have a Medieval theme. Ian at one point said he wanted to attend the 3 night camp like Nadia did last year, but he has changed his mind, which is fine with me. Nadia will be attending seven nights of camp this time around. I am planning on signing both of them up for a week of horse camp where they took horseback riding lessons two years ago. That camp is just during the day (M-F). Finally, I am planning to send them to one week of CEF's Good News Day Camp at a church near us. They've never done that before. I think doing these camps will be fun and help compensate for the fact we're not planning on going on a vacation this year (unless I get a job). I also have picked two dates to go to Knoebels and two dates to go to DelGrosso's. I also want to schedule one day at Sesame Place (we didn't go last year) and also a pirate ship cruise in Annapolis once in the summer. I am also planning to sign Nadia and Ian up for tennis lessons, if they offer them again this summer. I may not know for sure where we'll be living in September, whether the kids will be homeschooled or enrolled in a school next year, or whether I will be employed or a SAHM, but it's at least nice to start making plans for our summer. If I am not offered a job in the next couple of months, we will take our house off the market.

Entering the fourth quarter

Since we started school the end of August, I have been planning to wrap things up on May 6. This would mean that we are now 3/4 of the way through our school year. So I thought it was time to stop and write a synopsis of where we are right now.

Math - Nadia finished her 2nd grade math textbook about two weeks ago, and I decided at that point to also give Ian a break from his math textbook. He had completed about 1/3 of his 1st grade textbook. The last couple of weeks I have been focusing on three things - money, time, and addition/subtraction facts. One day a week we work with coins together, another day we work on the clock together (telling time by the quarter hour), and the other days Ian and Nadia have been using iPad apps to work on learning addition and subtraction facts. Oliver likes to join us for the money and time activities so I try to find ways to include him.

Handwriting - Nadia is half way through her first cursive handwriting book. She will finish it by the time our school year ends. Ian has been drawing and writing in a journal during the last couple of months, and for the last ten weeks of the school year I would like to have him work through some Draw Write Now pages, which also will help with his drawing skills. I also have been having Ian do another book to work on his cutting and folding skills. He loves the Kumon craft book, and his scissor skills have improved greatly over this school year.

Science - Nadia finished her 2nd grade science book about two weeks ago, and since that point she has been working on her keyboarding skills or Spanish instead of science. Ian will finish his 1st grade science textbook in March, and I have not decided whether or not I will substitute something else for that subject for the last several weeks of the school year.

Spelling - Ian is about 1/5 of the way through the 2nd grade spelling book, and Nadia is about 1/3 of the way through the 4th grade spelling book. We will keep plugging along, and I don't expect either of them to finish either textbook in the next ten weeks.

Social Studies - We are finishing Africa this week and then will spend eight weeks on Asia and one week on Australia. Nadia will start working on learning to identify the countries of Asia on a map with Paul in the near future like she has already done with North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. We read three 200+ page missionary biographies for Africa (David Livingstone, Mary Slessor, and Lillian Trasher) and five other chapter books for Africa.

Music - Nadia has only one song left to learn to finish the two books for Level 1A. I plan to start Level 1B with her next week and keep on going with piano even after we end our school year. The kids will continue to participate in the Soul Patrol kids' choir until the middle of May and then will start the summer musical on Wednesday nights when AWANA comes to a close.

P.E. - The kids have been enjoying homeschool gym class (basketball, field hockey, dodgeball, soccer, etc.), and this will continue until the first week of April. The ice skating class will conclude next week. The basketball season will wrap up on March 19, and soccer will start around that same time. Over these next ten weeks of school we should get back into the habit of walking to the playground, riding bikes outside, etc. Yesterday the weather was GORGEOUS (in the 60's in February!). I was able to RUN four miles (my legs objected!) for the first time in 2 months, and the kids were outside riding bikes without any coats on! Today it wasn't quite as warm (high of 51), but it was sunny and so I took the kids to the playground for the first time in 2016. Yahoo!

Reading - Ian will finish the Level four reading curriculum in March (Return of the Jedi here we come!), and then I want to start easing him into chapter books. Hopefully we will find a series that he will really enjoy. Nadia reads from chapter books every day. She is almost done reading all of the books about Henry Huggins. These books are each around 200 pages long. Next she wants to read the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books that I read to the kids a couple of years ago.

I do love homeschooling the kids, and I am hoping it will work out for us to homeschool again next year. That is uncertain right now with me applying for jobs. We shall see.

Ian's first basket!

Ian scored his first basket in his game today, and we happened to be sitting right behind that basketball hoop so I had a great view of watching him score his first points. I was so excited and screaming after he made it, and Ian at first had a look of confusion on his face as if he couldn't believe what had happened. It took Nadia three years to score her first basket in a game (she made one last week), but Ian scored one in his first season. I hope Nadia scores another one this season because I didn't see her first one due to Oliver's hospitalization. I saw her first (and thus far only) soccer goal two years ago. I missed Ian's very first soccer goal last spring, but I saw him score at least eight goals last fall. Because one game was rescheduled due to snow, we still have three basketball games left in the season, and then we will be switching gears from basketball back to soccer. Hopefully it will warm up in the next few weeks, as it seems too cold for soccer right now! Paul agreed to be an assistant coach for Nadia's soccer team for the first part of her season. He can't help the last month of the spring season once he's working at KCI full-time. The kids have one more ice skating lesson and then an ice skating pizza party the week after that and that will conclude the ten week ice skating session.

I usually get a haircut every three months, but with the craziness of the past two months, it had been a little over four months since my last haircut. After dinner this evening we headed up to the mall so I could get a haircut, the kids could each use one of their free ice cream cone Valentine coupons at Friendly's (we got cups instead of cones because I am simply not that brave), and the kids could shop using some money Grandma Kennedy gave them a few days ago. Nadia got a new pair of sneakers (her feet are growing very fast these days) at Payless and the boys each picked out a Lego set at Target. Paul took them into a bookstore and let them ride the carousel one time while I got my haircut.

Home Sweet Home

There is just nothing like your own bed, especially when you have a back that is very particular about what you sleep on. I became particular about what I slept on eight years ago. Oliver needed to be on oxygen during his nap on Monday afternoon, but he was able to stay on "room air" during the night on Monday night so we were given our discharge papers around 9:15 on Tuesday morning. Walking to the car was almost more than Oliver could handle, but thankfully he made it (with a lot of coughing) because with a suitcase, purse, and a bag of toys I would have hard a very hard time trying to carry him at the same time. I drove to Paul's parent's house and picked up Nadia and Ian and then drove back home. After lunch Oliver threw up then I gave him a breathing treatment before he took a three hour nap. At first in the hospital they were giving him 12 breathing treatments a day, but they eventually weaned him down to 4 treatments a day (8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm). The first time we gave him his oral steroids this morning he threw up all over the place. I talked to a nurse and she said to try again, and this time we got half of what he was supposed to have today down him without incident. I am taking him to the Pediatrician on Friday and the Pulmonologist on March 7. Yesterday I did schoolwork with Nadia and Ian in the afternoon (usually we do it in the morning) and then vacuumed, mopped the kitchen floor, did a load of laundry, did a load of dishes, cooked dinner, and did some general straightening up around the house. I went to bed at 9pm and had the best night of sleep I had in 11 days as I was only awakened once (at 3am by Oliver) between 9pm and 7am. Today we were back in our usual routine (except for the fact that Oliver isn't his normal self).

My mom had outpatient surgery this morning to insert a catheter below the other lung so that fluid can be drained as needed without poking any more needles into her. We are hoping this will help her breathe more easily and that in turn will give her more energy to work on her PT and OT exercises and such.

Last year I gave the kids each a puzzle for Valentine's Day. This year I gave them books. Oliver and Ian each received one of the bedtime math books (I HIGHLY recommend those three books - the kids LOVE them and they are doing math problems and they have different questions for different ability levels which means all of my kids can participate), and Nadia received a boxed set of four Amelia Bedelia chapter books (#5-8). She finished the last book last night, which means today she is back to reading Henry books (by Beverly Cleary) from the library. The library only had books #1-4 of the Amelia Bedelia chapter books, which is why I got those for her instead of the third bedtime math book (although I do want to get that third book at some point along the way). We had gotten the bedtime math books from the library, but I knew they'd be ones we'd use again and again and again so I wanted to own our own copies.  I also promised to buy them some candy after it went on sale so I got them a bag of conversation hearts after I returned from Maryland.

So close......

On Saturday the doctor said Oliver might be discharged on Sunday and thus my hopes were up for a discharge on Sunday or Monday. This morning the doctor said we would likely be going home at 3pm if his numbers were good on room air. He did fine until 1pm and the pharmacy delivered his steroids that he was to take at home. But during his nap his numbers were between 87-89, and they were supposed to stay at 90 or higher. The resident checked on him at 2pm and said she thought he could still be discharged, but she had to check with her attending physician, and he said no we needed  to stay another day. I had already packed our suitcase and turned the bed back into a couch. I could not bring myself to do that again so I am just sleeping on the couch tonight. When I told Paul the news, he came to spend a little time with Oliver while I spent a little time with Nadia and Ian whom I had not seen since Thursday. Then he took them to his parents house so his mom could watch them for 24 hours. Praying that Oliver will do well with his breathing tonight, and we can be discharged tomorrow.

I am overdue for a thankful list so here goes....

1. Nadia scored her first basket during her game on Saturday! Hopefully she scores at least one more this season so I can witness the long awaited event.

2. Nadia's game was early enough on Sarurday for Paul to be able to take Nadia and Ian to Toys R Us for a free Lego build.

3. The hospital got iPads for each room since we were here last. You can have it show on the tv whatever is on your iPad if you want. We put our Amazon Prime membership to good use so Oliver could watch Curious George, Sesame Street, etc. whenever he wanted.

4. I did not pack enough clothes at 1:30am on Friday morning. I always have this struggle to admit at the onset that we will probably be gone more than a couple of days. Thankfully they have a washer and dryer that are free to use and I took advantage of that in Sunday morning. Paul brought more clothes this afternoon so I can wear something different tomorrow.

5. Nadia and Ian sang in the kid's choir on Sunday morning which I missed, but people posted videos on FB for both services which was a blessing for me.

6. We thought my mom was doing very poorly, but when the paramedics showed up, they figured out part of the problem was her oxygen machine was not functioning properly. This meant she could stay at home sweet home, Praying she can have a simple procedure done to drain more fluid from the cavities around her lungs this week.

7. Heather watched Nadia and Ian for about 5 hours on Friday, and Paul's mom is helping us out tonight and tomorrow.

8. We enjoyed going to the children's museum on the 10th. I had planned to take them to Snow Fest on the 14th after church for snow mobile rides and such, but Paul was not interested in taking them without me. I gave the kids their valentines gifts two days early because of my trip to MD. I skipped the crafts this year and usually I cook special heart shaped meals, but it was all different this year. Nadia did surprise me with a hand made card upon my return which was appreciated as Paul and I did not exchange cards or gifts, and we have not been on a date for 6 months. My parents gave the kids cute cards (Star Wars for Ian, Frozen for Nadia, etc) and enclosed gift cards to places like Wendy's and Dunkin Donuts that we will all greatly enjoy using in the coming months.